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Menasce S, Libanori R, Coulter FB, Studart AR. 3D-Printed Architectured Silicones with Autonomic Self-Healing and Creep-Resistant Behavior. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306494. [PMID: 38176686 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Self-healing silicones that are able to restore functionalities and extend the lifetime of soft devices hold great potential in many applications. However, currently available silicones need to be triggered to self-heal or suffer from creep-induced irreversible deformation during use. Here, a platform is proposed to design and print silicone objects that are programmed at the molecular and architecture levels to achieve self-healing at room temperature while simultaneously resisting creep. At the molecular scale, dioxaborolanes moieties are incorporated into silicones to synthesize self-healing vitrimers, whereas conventional covalent bonds are exploited to make creep-resistant elastomers. When combined into architectured printed parts at a coarser length scale, the layered materials exhibit fast healing at room temperature without compromising the elastic recovery obtained from covalent polymer networks. A patient-specific vascular phantom and fluidic chambers are printed to demonstrate the potential of architectured silicones in creating damage-resilient functional devices using molecularly designed elastomer materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Menasce
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Libanori
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Fergal Brian Coulter
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - André R Studart
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
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Zou S, Picella S, de Vries J, Kortman VG, Sakes A, Overvelde JTB. A retrofit sensing strategy for soft fluidic robots. Nat Commun 2024; 15:539. [PMID: 38225274 PMCID: PMC10789869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44517-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Soft robots are intrinsically capable of adapting to different environments by changing their shape in response to interaction forces. However, sensory feedback is still required for higher level decisions. Most sensing technologies integrate separate sensing elements in soft actuators, which presents a considerable challenge for both the fabrication and robustness of soft robots. Here we present a versatile sensing strategy that can be retrofitted to existing soft fluidic devices without the need for design changes. We achieve this by measuring the fluidic input that is required to activate a soft actuator during interaction with the environment, and relating this input to its deformed state. We demonstrate the versatility of our strategy by tactile sensing of the size, shape, surface roughness and stiffness of objects. We furthermore retrofit sensing to a range of existing pneumatic soft actuators and grippers. Finally, we show the robustness of our fluidic sensing strategy in closed-loop control of a soft gripper for sorting, fruit picking and ripeness detection. We conclude that as long as the interaction of the actuator with the environment results in a shape change of the interval volume, soft fluidic actuators require no embedded sensors and design modifications to implement useful sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Zou
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
| | - Sergio Picella
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle de Vries
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
| | - Vera G Kortman
- Department of Marine and Transport Technology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
- Bio-Inspired Technology Group, Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Aimée Sakes
- Bio-Inspired Technology Group, Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes T B Overvelde
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands.
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Zizhou R, Wang X, Houshyar S. Review of Polymeric Biomimetic Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts to Tackle Intimal Hyperplasia. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:22125-22148. [PMID: 35811906 PMCID: PMC9260943 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Small-diameter artificial vascular grafts (SDAVG) are used to bypass blood flow in arterial occlusive diseases such as coronary heart or peripheral arterial disease. However, SDAVGs are plagued by restenosis after a short while due to thrombosis and the thickening of the neointimal wall known as intimal hyperplasia (IH). The specific causes of IH have not yet been deduced; however, thrombosis formation due to bioincompatibility as well as a mismatch between the biomechanical properties of the SDAVG and the native artery has been attributed to its initiation. The main challenges that have been faced in fabricating SDAVGs are facilitating rapid re-endothelialization of the luminal surface of the SDAVG and replicating the complex viscoelastic behavior of the arteries. Recent strategies to combat IH formation have been mostly based on imitating the natural structure and function of the native artery (biomimicry). Thus, most recently, developed grafts contain a multilayered structure with a designated function for each layer. This paper reviews the current polymeric, biomimetic SDAVGs in preventing the formation of IH. The materials used in fabrication, challenges, and strategies employed to tackle IH are summarized and discussed, and we focus on the multilayered structure of current SDAVGs. Additionally, the future aspects in this area are pointed out for researchers to consider in their endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumbidzai Zizhou
- Center
for Materials Innovation and Future Fashion (CMIFF), School of Fashion
and Textiles, RMIT University, Brunswick 3056, Australia
| | - Xin Wang
- Center
for Materials Innovation and Future Fashion (CMIFF), School of Fashion
and Textiles, RMIT University, Brunswick 3056, Australia
| | - Shadi Houshyar
- School
of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
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Fegan KL, Green NC, Britton MM, Iqbal AJ, Thomas-Seale LEJ. Design and Simulation of the Biomechanics of Multi-Layered Composite Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Coronary Artery Grafts. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:883179. [PMID: 35833186 PMCID: PMC9272978 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.883179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease is among the primary causes of death worldwide. While synthetic grafts allow replacement of diseased tissue, mismatched mechanical properties between graft and native tissue remains a major cause of graft failure. Multi-layered grafts could overcome these mechanical incompatibilities by mimicking the structural heterogeneity of the artery wall. However, the layer-specific biomechanics of synthetic grafts under physiological conditions and their impact on endothelial function is often overlooked and/or poorly understood. In this study, the transmural biomechanics of four synthetic graft designs were simulated under physiological pressure, relative to the coronary artery wall, using finite element analysis. Using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/gelatin cryogel as the representative biomaterial, the following conclusions are drawn: (I) the maximum circumferential stress occurs at the luminal surface of both the grafts and the artery; (II) circumferential stress varies discontinuously across the media and adventitia, and is influenced by the stiffness of the adventitia; (III) unlike native tissue, PVA/gelatin does not exhibit strain stiffening below diastolic pressure; and (IV) for both PVA/gelatin and native tissue, the magnitude of stress and strain distribution is heavily dependent on the constitutive models used to model material hyperelasticity. While these results build on the current literature surrounding PVA-based arterial grafts, the proposed method has exciting potential toward the wider design of multi-layer scaffolds. Such finite element analyses could help guide the future validation of multi-layered grafts for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L. Fegan
- Physical Sciences for Health Centre for Doctoral Training, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi C. Green
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie M. Britton
- School of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Asif J. Iqbal
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Assessing the aneurysm occlusion efficacy of a shear-thinning biomaterial in a 3D-printed model. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022; 130:105156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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